On 30 July, the Canadian Militia Council advised the War Office that, if Great Britain entered the war, Canada would be expected to spring into action quickly. This advice resulted in a special meeting of the Militia Council, on 31 July. The council discussed Canada’s mobilization and the raising of a contingent of 20,000 to 25,000 men, to aid the Imperial Forces in the event of war.

This meeting, and the decision that Canada would raise a contingent, if Great Britain were pulled into the war, was made independent of any request from the British War Council. Although no formal request had yet been made, the Canadian Government wanted Great Britain to know that Canada could be relied on for assistance if needed. At this point Canada’s Regular Forces, the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR), were ordered to be ready for mobilization.

(“Canada Will Be Ready to Help Motherland,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 31 July 1914.)

Canada watched as the Austro-Serbian war began on 28 July and saw the ripple effect it caused through international markets. Canadians, including those in Waterloo Region, were reminded to keep working to maintain the Canadian economy. Canada needed to remain strong, so that when Great Britain called on citizens for support Canadians could display their loyalty through monetary and material support.

In addition to monetary and material support, the Canadian government notified their citizens that Canada would send a contingent to Europe in the event of war. On 31 July, Waterloo Region and the rest of Canada were informed that a plan was in place to send a 20,000 man contingent if war was declared. Additional contingents would be sent if needed.

(“Canada Will Be Ready to Help Motherland,” Berlin Daily Telegraph, 31 July 1914.)

On 1 August, the British War Office asked the Canadian Government how much wheat Canada could send Britain. Great Britain needed to rely on a Canadian wheat supply because the Russian wheat crop could not be counted on like it had been in previous years. Later in the month, Britain requested that they receive as much of the harvest as possible, that Canada did not export grains to countries outside of the empire and that it set reasonable prices.

Traditionally, Canada was not much more than self-sustaining in most of her foodstuffs, with the exceptions of grain production. Canada recognized that Great Britain would become very dependent on Canada for her grain supply, a challenge that Canada was prepared to meet. In addition to grains, Canada also increased her exports of bacon, cheese, and fish to Britain. Canada estimated the upcoming harvest to yield 180,000,000 bushels, which meant that 80,000,000 bushels could be exported. Other members of the British Empire, such as Australia and New Zealand, were also expected to send as much as foodstuff as possible.

When the German Army began to move through neutral Belgium, on the morning of 4 August, Britain issued an ultimatum to Germany to leave Belgian soil, acting as a protector of Belgium. Germany’s disregard for Belgium’s neutrality was in violation of the Hague Treaty, signed in 1907. The Treaty stipulated that Britain, France, Germany and other great powers in Europe guaranteed the neutrality of neutral countries during times of war.

Germany was trying to use Belgium as a route towards the French border, in an attempt to outflank the French army. When Germany did not respond to Britain’s ultimatum by midnight (Berlin time) the ultimatum expired. Shortly after the expiration, Britain received a note from Germany declaring war. This declaration was received at the same time that Britain sent out her declaration of war against Germany. Britain’s declaration of war read:

“Owing to the summary rejection by the German Government of the request made by His Britannic Majesty’s Government that the neutrality of Belgium should be respected, His Majesty’s Government has declared to the German Government that a state of war exists between Great Britain and Germany from 11 o’clock p.m., August 4.”

At 11 p.m. in London, England, the British Empire as a whole was at war with Germany and her allies.

On the evening of 4 August, hundreds of people had been waiting impatiently on the streets for any type of war news. When news reached Berlin, and the rest of Waterloo Region, at 9:30 p.m. that Great Britain had declared war on Germany, the people were gripped with wild excitement. The news was posted on the window of the Berlin Daily Telegraph office, and was later followed by an “Extra.” When it was announced that Germany responded with her own declaration of war against Great Britain, the Star Theatre pianist began to play “Rule Britannia” and the crowd began to cheer.

While some celebrated the declaration of war, it is evident that others in the community had mixed feelings about the war. Catherine Olive Breithaupt, the seventeen-year-old daughter of the Louis Jacob Breithaupt, who was the president of the thriving Breithaupt Leather Company, stated: “I am not extra proud of my Teutonic blood tonight.” This diary excerpt depicts the conflict German-Canadians in Waterloo Region would face during the upcoming war with Germany.

At 11 p.m. London, England time (7 p.m. in Waterloo Region) Great Britain declared war on Germany. This meant that Canada too was at war. The declaration of war was presented to the region by the newspapers of the region, which received the news through the wire. At this point, however, it was not known what type of contribution Canada would be giving Great Britain. Canadians waited to find out of Great Britain would accept Canada’s offer of a contingent.

On 5 August, the Minster of Militia, Colonel Samuel Hughes, was authorized by the Canadian government to carry out a partial mobilization. In the week prior to the declaration of the war, there had been extensive efforts to ensure that the main defense posts of Canada were well prepared and fully manned. The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) had been mobilized and sent to strategic ports for the coastal defense of Canada. Additionally, harbours were fortified and mines were placed in strategic locations for the defense of Canada. Britain encouraged Canada to secure her self-defence before raising Canadian troops for overseas service.

After the war was declared on the evening of 4 August, Canadians across the country stated their intentions to volunteer. However, it was not just men who displayed this strong level of patriotism and support for the British Empire; women too proclaimed their intentions. Although there had not yet been a request made by the Canadian government or the Red Cross Society in Canada, nurses in the Twin City (Berlin-Waterloo) stated their desire to volunteer if such a request was made. Several nurses were ready to go overseas and take to the field. They were told that a medical corps would be organized within two or three days, if the need were present.

On 5 August, the Berlin Daily Telegraph reprinted an article from Ottawa that explained the requirements for enlistment if Canada sent a contingent overseas. Although the article was originally published on 3 August in Ottawa, its content became all the more important by 5 August since Britain had declared war. As the possibility of Canada contributing a contingent increased, Canadians needed to know what the requirements for enlistment were.

Across Canada military corps were proclaiming their willingness to serve overseas. The Canadian Government responded to this by informing Canadians that there would be stringent requirements for enlistment into an overseas force. Every man would need to pass a medical exam, and secure a certificate of physical fitness. The article further informed the Waterloo Region readership that while it was expected that most of men in artillery batteries and cavalry troops would pass, few infantry regiments would see all of their men pass the physical. Additionally men with officer ranks would be under scrutiny as well, because only those with the most military experience and training would be entrusted with the command of Canada’s young men. The Canadian Government planned to accept only the best men for overseas service.

Thirty-five members of the “C” Squadron, 24th Grey’s Horse, volunteered to go to the front for active service overseas on 5 August. At this time however, Canada’s offer of a Contingent had not yet been accepted by Britain. Regardless, these men displayed their patriotism and their desire to support the motherland during the present crisis.

The 24th Regiment Grey’s Horse was a militia cavalry regiment in the Oxford and Waterloo counties. The “C” Squadron was stationed in the Waterloo Region, while their headquarters and the regiment’s “A” squadron were stationed in Woodstock, Ontario. At this point they did not know if they would be ordered to go to camp as scheduled on 17 August, or if they would receive orders from Ottawa to mobilize. When Canada’s offer to send a contingent overseas was accepted by Great Britain, men across Waterloo Region and Canada rushed to try to enlist; among those men were members of the “C” Squadron.